Tide Pool on Deer Island

off Winthrop and in Boston Harbor

A few students observing abiotic and biotic life on the Rocky Shores of Boston Harbor (in the backround you can see Boston!)

Introduction:

In October of 2006 a class in the Amigos School (Cambridge, MA) went to the Rocky Shore and Tide Pool of Deer Island. We observed many abiotic and biotic specimens, later on, we looked at them under microscopes.

Aibotic Life:
You can find an assortment of Aibotic: weathered rocks and bolders, air, most importantly salt water and sun.

(the Biotic life) Producers, Herbivores, Carnivores, and Decomposers:

The Rocky Shore and Tide Pool share producers such as: Algae, kelp, Sea Lettuce, Irish Moss, and Rockweed. Herbivores such as: Limpets, Sea Urchins, Sand dollar, Sea Star, Hermit Crab, Protists, Sea sponge, and Fish. Carnivores such as: Sea Urchin, Hermit Crab, Sea Star, Sea Anemone, Plankton, Crabs, Seagulls, and Fish. Decomposers such as: Bacteria, snails, Periwinckles, and Barnicles.

Energy Flow:

The Land:

Weather:
Air Temperature: 63 F
Rocky Shore water Temperature: 60 F
Tide Pool Water Temperature: 50 F
(convesion table- F to C)
The day we went was absolutely beautiful! The sun was out with only a few clouds in the sky.

Energy Web:

An energy web is a web that shows lines connecting to an animals source of energy.

Biotic Life (in list form):

Producers:

• Algae
• Kelp
• Sea Lettuce
• Irish Moss
• Rock Weed

Herbivores:

• Limpets
• Sea Urchin
• Protists
• Sand Dollar
• Sea Star
• hermit Crab
• Sea Sponge
• Fish

Carnivores:

• Sea Urchin
• Hermit Crab
• Sea Star
• Sea Anemone
• Plankton
• Crabs
• Seagulls
• Fish

Decomposers:

• Bacteria
• Snails
• Barnicles
• Periwinckles

So many things have not been discovered, and the secrets lay deep. Is it your turn to make a drastic discovery?


Our teacher collects plankton with a net that we had made (plankton nets :P) while a student watches.